World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) takes place Nov. 12-18 every year. This is a global campaign to promote prudent use of antimicrobials such as antibiotics and raise global awareness of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) or antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotics stewardship is a high priority among healthcare providers, government agencies, healthcare accreditation agencies and insurers.

What is our federal and state government doing about antibiotic stewardship?

In 2013, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alerted healthcare providers to the developing threat of antibiotic resistance with its report Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States.

Then in 2014, the CDC published its core elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs and in 2015 released similar guidelines for nursing homes. Deze richtlijnen geven aan hoe gezondheidsverleners antibiotica wisely kunnen gebruiken. In Indiana, certain infections caused by resistant bacteria must be reported to the State Department of Health to track trends and improve best practices.

Further, in 2015, President Obama convened a White House conference of medical leaders to develop a plan to combat antibiotic resistance resulting in the National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria.

What does my doctor do about antibiotic stewardship?

In the physician’s office, your doctor will determine your symptoms, the season of the year, and infecties occurring in our community if your illness is likely caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Recognizing this difference is important because antibiotics will not cure a viral infection like the common cold or the flu, and instead may make matters worse later by promoting the development of antibiotic resistance.

In the hospital, blood, tissue, and / or urine cultures are used to identify the specific bacteria causing your infection and indicate which antibiotics will eliminate that bacteria and which antibiotics will not work. Selecting the right antibiotic from the start is important to prevent treatment failure and to avoid potential side effects.

For 2017, the Joint Commission, which accredits hospitals, has proposed eight hospital accreditation standards dealing directly with antibiotic stewardship; Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital is in full compliance with these eight proposed standards. Each day at Ball Memorial Hospital, a team of infectious disease physicians, surgeons, infectious prevention nurses, epidemiologists and pharmacists support front-line physicians and nurses to make the best use of antibiotics by monitoring bacterial resistance and patient response.